The Tara Birch Newsletter #6

Well, we’re at the end of the school summer holidays here in the UK, so I just want to take a moment to give a massive shout-out to all the working parents and carers out there. It's been quite a journey navigating the balance between work and family life, and let’s be honest—coming out the other side still reasonably sane deserves a round of applause for us all! ??

Our girls have been prized back through those school gates and my hubby is on shift at London Fire Brigade . I am pleased to say that as much as I love time with my family, I long to get back into my routine and do more of this wonderful work that I enjoy so much.?

MY SUMMER…

I share my vulnerabilities in hope others do the same. Still, too often, many hold back their ‘genuine’ life experiences in fear of being judged - they lean towards polished posts that highlight only their best moments. Judge if you must… but my summer story is filled with challenges and valuable lessons that I am happy to share.?

Like most people, we always try to go away in the summer, so we can spend some quality time together. This year, we debated taking a holiday as I only launched my business in April, But in the end we opted for a last minute getaway. We breezed through T5 airport security, the BA flight was smooth, and we received an unexpected car upgrade. Nice… if this was a sign of what was to come… bring it on!

Spoke too soon… we arrived at the resort and the room was beyond disappointing; it was like a terrible game of human Tetris .? One of the girls’ beds was a camp bed that looked to have done a few rounds with Mike Tyson, and protruding springs like it was auditioning for ‘Stranger Things’ ... were we in the ‘Upside Down’ ??

When I asked at reception for a room change, they informed me that they had a “list” … A LIST!? … for complaints, indicating we weren’t the only ones who were unhappy with our accommodation.

Once at the pool, I quickly realised it appeared to be riddled with black mold, which, given my chronic lung disease (lymphangioleomyamatosis ) meant I couldn’t even go for a swim to cool off. My girls were confused about why I couldn't join them in the pool, leading to an unplanned and uncomfortable conversation with them about my health, which was super tough and very emotional.?

Despite all these challenges, we adapted and sought some silver linings, which included finding a private beach, jetty and even a lovely family of beach doggies. The holiday was not a complete washout; in the end, we made the best of things and managed to make the best of a bad situation. And more importantly, the experience taught us about our collective strength, compassion, communication and resilience as a family. Such skills are priceless, right??

These abilities have immense value not only within families, but also in our broader relationships and connections. It's essential for each of us to openly share our experiences- both positive and negative - to learn from them, and to embrace the opportunity to develop a diverse range of interpersonal skills as we face life’s challenges.

LINKEDIN POLLS…

This all aligns well to my recent LinkedIn polls, where employees revealed that 98% view soft/power skills as essential for the workplace, noting that effective communication and empathy can enhance collaboration by 45% and boost morale by 41%.?

Connection and communication are the basic foundation for successful relationships, both personal and professional. Hence why I love what I do, and why I created the 'EVOLVE' online training series to focus on these essential skills. We need to be more considerate, compassionate and all round better humans with each other.?

MY MONTH AHEAD …

September is shaping up to be an exciting time for me. So many meetings booked in with faces old and new.?

One thing that I am really looking forward to is The Women In Security Awards in London, with Liz Lloyd and so many wonderful women and many deserved finalists. Can’t wait to applaud some incredible women!?

Also, it seems apt to mention that I am … eeeeekkkk… extremely excited to say that the booking slots for my next EVOLVE online training series will be available shortly … so stay tuned for more details, posts and links in the next week or so.

My newsletters are mainly a place where you can get to know more about me and, and for us to make deeper connections. Still, if you are interested in learning more about how I can assist you with my services, please feel free to contact me on LinkedIn , or via my website .?

Have a great September!?

Be well.

Tara ?